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Planting Broccoli

Broccoli is a hardy, fairly quick-maturingcrop which belongs to the Cabbage family.

Culture: Broccoli prefers coolness andmoisture. In the regions of the country wheresummer arrives early, it will be most successfulif planted as a fall crop. However, certaingardeners contend that it thrives best as a two-season crop for both spring and fall.

In the latter case, seeds are sown in latewinter, one-half inch deep in flats and placedin a warm, sunny window or greenhouse. Seed-lings can be set out early in spring, as soon asthe garden soil can be worked. Later, whenmost danger of severe frost has passed, moreseeds are sown directly in the garden. Whenstalks are three or four inches tall, thin theplants or transplant them so that they stand18 to 24 inches apart in the row.

The transplanted broccoli can be harvestedthroughout the spring and early summer.

Broccoli that is direct-seeded in late Maymature during the cool, early autumn morbi.Thus, with a little planning, you can enyfresh-picked garden broccoli throughoutgrowing season.

Broccoli is not a greedy feeder. Itdo best in a moderately rich soil, providedsoil is well drained and easy to work,thrives in soils ranging from sand and claypeat. It is a thirsty vegetable, though, requires plenty of moisture.

The plant form of broccoli consists ofthick main stalk, at the end of which developfcentral cluster of tiny, dark green flower bul..

Stem, buds and leaves are edible, but the leasare less tender than the stem and buds and usually discarded.

Some watchfulness is necessary to see t±:arthe greenish heads are harvested well before lirflower buds expand and dry out. After the maxhead has been cut the side shoots will ctinue to form smaller heads and provide .asteady and heavy harvest over a consideraterperiod. All heads should be cut off in suia manner that a fairly long stub of stem mains on the plant.

After the central head of broccoli 1--nsbeen cut for food, a number of small lateralroots will develop in the axils of the remainingleaves. These shoots also produce flower bumwhich are edible. The welcome harvest of thisimportant, easy-to-grow vegetable will last faseveral weeks. From four to six cuttings Istems and buds may be expected from e\t-Istalk.

Varieties: Green Comet Hybrid is afavorite choice of gardeners due to its sk=growing season of 40 days. The two branchinr,varieties, Spartan Early and De Cicco, both hay.--.a maturation of 60 days. Calabrese is prolifi:and hardy Nutrient Value: Broccoli is a goodof vitamin A (4,500 I.U. per serving).-:orbic acid (162 I.U.). It is also rich in.7:1 and iron.

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